Commenting on the Scottish Government’s housing statistics [1] released today (Tuesday), Graeme Brown, Director of Shelter Scotland, housing and homelessness charity, said:

'Continuing to promote home ownership at a time when repossessions are rising and thousands are without a home already [2], is not sustainable, which is why Shelter Scotland continues to focus on the numbers of affordable homes for rent being built [3].

'The Scottish Government’s figures released today show that there are 788 more affordable homes for rent [4] - but the number of new homes started over the course of the year is almost 450 less [5].

'Ministers have moved quickly to buy up unsold homes from the private sector, but this is not a long-term solution. The focus must be on building thousands more rented homes for people who will never be able to buy a house.'

He added: 'Early action has been paid for from next year's budget. Shelter Scotland calls on Ministers to fill gaps in the forthcoming budget and provide money for 10,000 affordable rented homes a year. The people of Scotland are looking to them to solve the housing crisis.'

Notes to editors

1. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2009/05/26091831
   
2. Last year in Scotland, over 40,000 households in Scotland were assessed as homeless. In December 2008, just over 9,500 households were living in temporary accommodation, waiting on a home. Over 200,000 households are on local authority housing lists in Scotland.
   
3. The charity launched its campaign for 10,000 affordable homes for rent in February 2007 and continues to call for more affordable homes for rent to be built.
   
4. The Scottish Government figures show 4,913 social sector homes, or affordable homes for rent, completed during 2008-9, which was a rise from 4,125 the previous year.
   
5. The figures show the number of new social sector houses started during 2008-9 was 5,765, compared to 6,214 the previous year.